Report from the Delaware River - 2004

Unless otherwise noted, the information below is from Gary Conner, the voice of the Shad Hotline. It is provided solely for its informational value. The Division cannot vouch for its accuracy, though we have no reason to doubt it. Please call the Shad Hotline 610-954-0577 or 610-954-0578 for the latest shad updates on the Delaware River.

PLAN TO JOIN US FOR THE BIG SPRING MEETING 3/17/04, AT THE SE WY CO FIREHOUSE ON RT#378 IN BETHLEHEM PA. TIME 7 PM. EVERY KID WINS A DOOR PRIZE.

Tight lines Conner

PRE-SEASON REPORT - Delaware Bay - 3/10/04

The NJ Bureau of Marine Fisheries has caught, tagged and released 300 striped bass in 3 days in nets set off of Bidwell’s Ditch and Reed’s Beach in Delaware Bay. The largest striped bass was 18 lbs. The first American shad, a small female, was caught. Water temperature reached a high of 48° F.

A Seafood buyer stated that American shad was again available from South Carolina. He was able to purchase 345 lbs. He continues to think that the A. shad run will be late, like last year.

The Hydroacoustics contractor plans to begin setting up the equipment tomorrow at the Route 202 Bridge for the mid-March through May American shad population estimate. This will include weekly updates of American shad passage at the site.

Steve Meserve of the Lewis Fishery plans to conduct his first haul seine on 3/20/04.

PRE-SEASON REPORT - Delaware Bay – 3/5/04

The NJ Bureau of Marine Fisheries set nets off of Bidwell’s Ditch and Reed’s Beach in Delaware Bay catching tagging and releasing 175 striped bass 18"–30”, the largest of which was 18 lbs. Windowpane Flounder were also caught, but no American shad. Water temperature was 41–46° F. A single American shad was reportedly caught by a commercial white perch netter in Upper Delaware Bay. The bureau plans to do more extensive netting for striped bass in Delaware Bay early next week.

Seafood buyer stated that there were no American shad available for him to purchase but lots of big white perch, due to these past two winters that had much of the water ice covered.

PSE&G said Trenton Power Plant Gate is open, and will remain open. If the security alert is raised it will be closed.

PRE-SEASON REPORT - 3/5/04

It is usually at this time of year that reports are made by Delaware River American shad anglers taking advantage of the warm water effluent at the Mercer Generating Station in Trenton. Later, there are reports from other NJ rivers of “shad” jumping dams. They are shad, usually Gizzard shad. for more information see the Comparison of Gizzard/American Shad. (75kb in PDF format which requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free from Adobe's Web site)

A Delaware Bay contact said that South Carolina commercial netting began on 2/1, and no shad were caught until this week, 2/23. He was able to buy 300 lbs, slightly less than he bought from them last year at this time and feels that the run will be late, like last year.

In 2003 there were no shad landed by commercial netters in upper Delaware Bay prior to March 16th due to the cold water temperatures. The bucks may have stayed deep (because of cold water) below the nets. The big landings didn't start until the end of March through mid-April and they were mostly roes as everyone fished 5.5" mesh (too big for bucks).

2004 is similar to last year with all the snow and ice melt, keeping the water below 50 F. Shad will be migrating at these cold temperatures, but will not be hitting. Remember, anglers that trolled (giving the lure more action, covering more water) seemed to do better in cold water last year than boat anglers whom remained stationary. One stationary boat angler that uses down riggers, claims that the few shad he does catch, below 50 F, are hooked on the outside of the mouth. The shad are just slapping at the lure, not hitting it aggressively. It is no news, that, if the river remains fishable but cold, the first shad will be caught in the warm water near the Trenton Power Plant and later, upriver at the Portland Power Plant.

Future reports will be from Gary Conner, the voice of the Delaware River Shad Fishermen's Association's Shad Hotline. These reports will be provided solely for their informational value. The Division cannot vouch for their accuracy, though we have no reason to doubt it. Please call the Shad Hotline 610-954-0577 or 610-954-0578 for the latest shad updates on the Delaware River.